PlantAKiss

Well I found that cache this weekend. This was after discovering that I...uh...err.....had the wrong coordinates in my GPSr. DUUUUUH. I was totally in the wrong place! Newbie rule no. 1: make sure coordinates are correct in GPSr before going to look for cache. Turned out to be a pretty quick find.

I just recently finished my first set of personal signature cards called "Nature's Gifts" that I plan to leave in appropriate caches. The first series is a business-size card (laminated) with a nature photo on the front (photos I've taken in various parks and gardens) and my ID name...and on the back I have the common and scientific name of the plant/bug/mushroom pictured and little bit about each one. I am hoping to get people who are looking for a cache to also look at the nature that surrounds them and learn a little about the flora and fauna. I may do a series on minerals as well. I thought it would be a fun way to say "I found it!" AND teach people a little nature lore. I will try to post a pic of one if I can. I don't care if they remain in the cache or it they are passed and traded.

Hello and welcome. Another newbie here. I like your ID name. You'll have a blast caching. I went out both days of the weekend. Found 5 caches and took a lot of photos of historical sights near caches. It was a great fun. I don't have scads of free time but I hope I can go caching fairly regularly. I'm already wondering about the challenges warm weather will bring when muggles swarm the great outdoors.

My UFD TB is headed to Zuidhorn, Netherlands! There seem to be quite a few caches in that area. I do have a question though. Is it permissable to mail a TB to somewhere in closer proximity to the goal? I understand the point is to have it pass through many hands/caches on its journey. Say for instance if I could get it to England so it can wend its way to the Netherlands. Surely it would pass through an awful lot of hands to get there. Would that be considered too much of a short cut? Wouldn't it have to eventually cross the waters anyway to get there? I can certainly drop it in a cache here where I live but I thought it might be nice to at least get it to the proper continent. The TBs are in English so I hope someone in the Netherlands will understand what the tag says. I did add a laminated card in honor of my grandmother, grandfather, father and friend who have diabetes...just to raise awareness of how common it is.

Thank you Eartha! I didn't know what those things were called. Now I know. Appreciate it!

I can understand the sentiments about lamp post caches BUT...people have to remember that what doesn't appeal to one person, may to another. Out of my whopping 11 finds, I've never seen one. There is a constant flow of newbies, like me, for whom a lamp post find would be a triumph. Or someone who doesn't have the time to go on a 10-mile trek in the wilderness or someone who might be handicapped in some way and needs something a little less difficult. And to some, being in public view and managing to secretely get a micro out of a lamp skirt without people wondering why you are molesting a lamp post IS a challenge! I'm sure if your find count is high, a lowly lamp post micro is pretty boring. But I think there will always be SOMEONE who doesn't mind. Time and experience will grow thoughtfulness in hiding techniques. I'll bet there are a lot of experienced people here who, in looking back, feel their first hides were pretty dumb. Oh yeah, I meant "lame" since that seems to be the popular term. I can promise that my first hide is not going to be in a lamp post skirt or under a bush or beside a creek.

A newb here...but one thing I've found to be helpful is to just stand STILL in one place and do a sweep with my eyes looking for anything that looks "unnatural" whether it be on the ground or inside a hole, etc. I have found 3 caches this way. So sometimes its not the beating of the bushes but a still body and sharp eyeball that does the trick.

I was in a similar position this weekend. I was hunting for a cache along a wooded trail in a park and saw a couple coming down the path. It looked like the woman was holding a GPSr. As they got closer, I didn't know whether to say something to them or not. We said hi to each other but they passed me by without mentioning caching so I didn't say anything either. They did make a remark about how cute my dog is. I felt awkward...not knowing if I SHOULD say something or give them their privacy. I feel sure that's what they were doing. Later, in telling a friend about the situation, they told me that what I should have done was...when they remarked about my dog, I should have said "Thanks...he cost me a lot of CAAASH!"...and see if that got any response.

I got my UFD TB today! Looking forward to sending it out. Thank you...and a BUMP. --------------------------- I'm adding an edit in here so there won't be a double post. I have discovered that the chain on my TB won't hold. It keeps coming apart and the circle falls off. It's come off in my hand and in my pocket several times. I don't want the circle part of the tag to get separated from the TB itself so does anyone know where you can purchase chains like the one attached so I can replace it? Hardware store? Sporting goods?

I received my UFD TB today! It didn't take very long...a week or a little more. I can't wait to send it off. My grandfather, grandmother, father and best friend have diabetes so I'm dedicating this TB trip to them. I don't THINK I do but I have a physical in 2 weeks so I guess I'll find out then. I can't do anything with it but look at it because GC.com is blocked at my office. Thanks so much to GC.com/Groundspeak for doing this. Great idea! I know a lot of work went into this so thank you to all who've worked hard to get this going.

I'm still a newb but its getting better! I had one micro cache I tried for 4 times. I was determined to find the bugger! Fifth time was the charm. VERY clever hide and it definitely taught me to look for little tiny details sometimes. A very educational hide. This weekend I tried for the third time for an ammo can in a park. I looked for close to 45 minutes under logs, in logs, in holes, in trees, up in trees. Nada. I finally left because the sun was setting and there were two other caches I wanted to look for. I feel like a real dummie not be able to find an AMMO can. Micros...sometimes you have an excuse there. I will keep trying. It just makes the find all that more sweet! Other caches I've had no problems at all. Easy or hard, I'm thrilled with every find.

I also take my camera with me so I can photograph each cache victory. It also doubles as a "disguise." Sometimes I get so excited by my find that I forget to take pics. This weekend as I was getting ready to search for a nearby cache in a park, a truck pulled up beside my car. A couple got out and they were hanging around only a few feet from the cache. I was pretending to take photos. They moved off in the direction of another cache. I figured they were thinking *I* was a muggle and went after the other cache. So I snagged the one nearby. A little later they came back and I noticed they had binoculars. Turned out they were birdwatching...looking for a pair of bluebirds. UNLESS...they were just telling[/] me that to cover up their real intentions.

Ok...I think this is the last of my major questions. After this I think I can shut up. I plan to make some personal signature tokens out of wooden nickels (disks). I would like to use the back of these to promote some hobbies (rockhounding and carnivorous plants) and conservation issues. Some might have web sites on them but none are of a commercial nature. One would be a non-profit conservation organization to raise awareness. Is this type of "promotion" allowed? I'm doing this for fun, not for any kind of recruitment purposes. I've read that there should be no commercial advertising in caches but business or money is not part of any of the hobbies or organizations. The "coin" backs would be all hobby, club or conservation related. Would this break a rule?

Hi I'm a newbie as well. I've had my GPSr for about 4 months now but circumstances have limited the time I've had to go caching. Things are easing up a little so hopefully I will have more time. The first couple of caches I looked for were DNFs. My first find was with a friend and it was a micro at a historic site located in a shopping center near my house. I never even knew that was there so it was educational for me. I was thrilled. That was followed by another micro at yet another nearby historic spot I didn't know about. That's one thing I like about caching...I am finding places I never knew existed within a few miles of my house. Since then I've found another micro that was a 4-time DNF and very clever hide. That is my favorite hide so far...a lot of DNFs logged on that one. And one regular (fell down a hill) and one multi cache that was a lot of fun. I am itching to go out this weekend. There are still two I have looked for and not found so they are still on my list. I've been having a blast...but I'd still like to find a caching partner for some hunts. I try to take photos at every find so I have a record of my triumphs. Sorry to hear about the vodka bottles and pooh.

From one chilehead to another... you can't beat the heat. I know where you are at right now. I'm a newb. But it will get easier. My last two searches were quite successful...much easier than my first attempts. The GPSr behaved, I actually found what I was looking for and had a great time. It felt more like I knew what I was doing. And as mentioned...don't always think caches are on the ground...you have to look EVERYWHERE...up, down, inside, out, around. Two of my hunts were getting frustrating until I STOOD STILL...and just slowly turned my head. Both times I spied just a tiny piece of something that didn't look "natural." And I KNEW I had found it. Quite a rush! Just like eating a hot pepper. I would like to hear how it goes for you.

Thanks SO much for the replies. Sorry there were so many questions. As for the park...it consists of three small "lakes" (ponds) with hiking trails around each. You cannot boat on the lakes so no crossing them that way. You have to walk (or bike). The lakes are small and VERY close together so if the distance rule is applied "as the crow flies" and not by hiking distance...then I'd say its not likely I can get a multi in this park. The existing one is 4 stages and covers a good distance. As the crow flies...the main place I wanted to draw attention to (a small Sarracenia bog) is right across the lake from the existing third stage and not likely to be more than 528 feet. I understand the reason for the rule but...that's disappointing. And I had such plans! lol The wet cache...I wasn't planning to contact the owner unless I personally found the cache. I was just reading the logs and noticed that for 4 months there have been comments on the condition of the cache. The owner seems to be an active cacher. It made me wonder about how long is too long for something to go unattended. As for the school...it WAS an old school building on a beautiful, park-like property used by adults, kids and dogs for playing. Then the city decided to plop a new school there. There was quite the battle because the city wanted to tear down the old building but the citizens prevailed and got a historic designation to prevent that. Sadly a heartbreaking number of magnificent old trees were bulldozed. At any rate, there is still a lot of people traffic using the remaining open land for dogs and kids so it would be nothing out of the ordinary to have people walking on the property and there's plenty of public street parking. Mostly its neighbors who walk there with kids and dogs. I appreciate all the comments. That helps.

Yes, I have done searches and read on these subjects but I just wanted to make sure I am clear on some points. Distance: I am in the early planning stages working to eventually place a cache. I am considering a multi in a favorite park of mine. There is already a great multi in the park. I want to make sure I understand about distance. 1) Am I correct that IF I were to place a multi in this park, no stage of my multi could come within 528 feet of any stage of the existing multi? 2) There is no distance regulations between the stages of MY multi? There are some points of interest I'd like to take people to but some points aren't necessarily spaced all that far apart. 3) I'm a poor judge of distance so is there any way to get a grip on how far approximately 528 feet is, so that my cache does not get rejected for being too close to the existing multi? I have no mental grasp of what .10 of a mile is. Half a football field? A five minute walk? Maintenance: There is a local cache I thought about going for, however the last 4 months of logs have mentioned that the ammo can is soaked with water and contents damaged (it was placed near a creek). There has been no log indicating the owners have made any repairs. 1) Should someone contact the owners and ask for attention even though its evident by the log? 2) How often should a cache owner check their online logs and their actual caches to acertain physical condition? Schools: There is an old historic school building on the site of a newer elementary school near my house. I noticed the rules say not to place a cache where a terrorist attack might take place and it lists elementary schools. I thought a small cache near the historic school would be a good way to draw some attention to an otherwise overlooked historic building. The school property, once used a park, still draws lots of people walking dogs, kids playing in the playground area, etc. so its not off limits to public foot traffic. Do you think a cache on a public school property like this would be against the rules? Thanks and sorry for all the questions...I didn't want to make a whole bunch of separate posts. I just want to make sure when I get to the point of being ready to place a cache, that I'm not breaking any rules. I want to be thoughtful and crafty since I've seen so many topics on lame caches. I don't want to fall in that category. :ph34r:

Yeah, I know it belongs to GC.com but if its not a secure site, the info can get snagged in transmission. Seems like all they'd need to do is check your ID name as a registered member and they'd have the phone and password already on file as you said. Its not a biggie...I was just wondering. Thanks!

I want to sign up for a UFD TB although they might be all gone. But I was wondering why you need to give your password and phone number? I know GC.com is a reputable site but...I hate giving that info out online. Is there a specific reason for needing your password and would email not suffice for a contact method? I'm not trying to be Miss Paranoid here but its drilled into your head not to give out that kind of info online.

I'm still a noob but I have taken my dog out with me when caching. I like having him with me and he has a great time but...he actually complicates matters. He has different ideas on what direction to go in and if I'm in the woods then its untangling his leash from sticks, trees and bushes and retrieving him from briar snags and picking "beggar lice" out of his coat. I will probably continue to take him with me whenever feasible because HE enjoys being out and about so much and of course I love his company. But it would probably be a little easier on me if I left him at home. I hope you enjoy your new dog! Perhaps training a dog to be a geodog from puppyhood would be easier.

Being a carnivorous plant grower, I just thought I'd note that Venus Flytraps are indigenous ONLY to the U.S. in one small spot in the country...around Wilmington, NC. Many people think they are some exotic foreign plant, but they are not. Never remove a flytrap from its native habitat...they can easily be bought for a few bucks in nurseries or online and they are tissue-cultured plants, not wild collected. There is a major problem with flytraps being poached in its limited habitat. Sorry...had to do my conservation bit.

Okey dokey. Thanks for the input.

I haven't released a TB yet but I was wondering if it this was allowed. I was thinking of making a TB Mission be to travel to as many caches as possible but asking that if the TB was moved, that the carrier make a $5 donation to a particular charity. Is that allowable? And if so, do you think most people would be honest and make the donation? I just thought that would be a way to raise money for a charity. Since there would be no "distance" goal, the bug could move often and raise a lot of money over time. Donations could be noted in the log and the approximate donation total could be monitored. Even small donations add up. However if its something that most people wouldn't commit to actually doing, then I wouldn't try it.

Now that's an interesting idea. Coordinates to tools to help grab a cache. Niiiice.

I haven't placed a cache yet. Thanks to reading in this forum, I quashed my initial [newbie] impulse to run out and hide one. I am now working on a more thoughtful hide. I want to get the right container, challenging location and good SWAG. I have learned to think about a lot of things in relation to placing a good cache: 1) Seasons...how will the area look in all 4 seasons (Will it be unaccessible with weeds/brambles/poison ivy in the summer? Would it be too exposed in the Fall when leaves drop? Too icy and slippery in the winter?) 2) Proximity to water...possibility of flooding! (Flash flooding can wash out areas that are normally consider dry. A lazy creek trickle can become a raging river after heavy rains.) 3) Container...make sure it will stand up to weather...rain, heat, freezing, extreme wind 4) Trying to ascertain if its too close to other caches (as best I can determine) 5) Making sure the area is reasonably safe...like not too close to a busy highway where someone might get injured trying to retrieve it 6) Putting it in an area where one can park a car somewhere in the vicinity 7) PERMANENCE of any object a cache is hidden on, in or under. Is it removable by human or weather? 8) Will it be fun and challenging to look for? Now when I walk in the park where I'd like place a cache...I find myself seeing potential spots...but then eliminating them as I run through possible scenarios of seasons and weather. It does take some thought and planning to find just the right spot. I am grateful for all I've learned here. Hopefully my first cache won't be a disaster.